Description: After Steve and Mitsuru slipped out of their debt to the Golden Lounge, the duo sneak past Monster and Cordon to reach the Southtown Villages. But along the way, they meet the beautiful and stunning Lyraelle. The demoness is quick to draw Mitsuru's ire... but when she draws Steve's affections and attentions, it quickly collapses into a melee a trois for the worst of reasons.

[MITSURU]"Daddy would use these all the time to avoid traffic."

Mitsuru explains to Steve, as she scrambles up on the chain-link gate. The lanky highschooler was dressed in sweats and a hoodie; all clothing 'borrowed' from the English boxer. She had her satchel bag with her; she was using it for her old clothing and homework, along with some snacks and a bottle of liquor she stole from Velvet Blue. Moving slowly, but steadily, she pulls herself up to the top, looking over to her friend. "These gates are used for shipping vans and stuff to come in, and drop stuff off. But there are two gates. So if a block was in gridlock? You could just pull into one of these, and pull out on the other side." She looks around. They were making good progress; it was getting closer to twilight, and if they could find a safe place to rest, they might be able to hit the Villages tomorrow. Why were the duo risking life and limb to hit the villages?

To get back home.

Getting away from the Golden Lounge, it was easy enough to stick to alleyways. At first. But once they started hitting the Business districts, the cordons and the monsters were getting significantly worse. Avoiding the monsters was obvious. Avoiding the cordons was for Steve's sake. Mitsuru didn't want Steve to get thrown away in a jail over kidnapping charges. But Mitsuru had the great idea of skipping through the transport drop-offs. Climbing the gates was tough; but as natural barriers, cordons were either on top of them, or between them. And if the fence was broken? That just meant you avoided it. The monsters didn't fly, so every unbroken, non-cordon spot was good. Mitsuru drops off the top of the gate, landing on her feet and hands clumsily. She hisses in pain, but brushes her hands. "This is TV Southtown; there is NHK one block over, and then there is Yusen Logistics over that. You think we should keep going, Steve?"

"Or should we start figuring out how to camp out?"

[STEVE]"That's very clever. You seem to know your way around the city." Steve responds to her, as he heaves himself up the gate with a huff "You were... right to go this route." As he reaches the top, his dark blue hoodie briefly gets caught on a loose bit of wire, he awkwardly releases one arm from the gate to pry it loose. Steve then goes over the gate fully, landing next to Mitsuru with with a heavy *Thump*. The boxer dusts off his jeans "I say we find a save place sooner rather then later, and set camp. We can't keep travelling the entire day, after all."

He looks over to the teenager dressed in his attire "I'm afraid I'm wholly unfamiliar with Southtown, save for a few very specific parts." Running a hand through his hair, the Brit leans against the alley wall. "Would you have ideas when it comes to safe buildings or regions in the vicinity?"

"Also, are you alright? That fall looked pretty painful."

[LYRAELLE]A shadow passes overhead, rays of moonlight broken by the shape of something somewhat bat-like in shape - but much bigger.

The choice of hunting grounds is a pragmatic one, at least for a creature with the endless appetite for conspicuousness that the Demon Queen lives with. The property is owned by a media entity; ergo, if she were to happen to save local assets (human or otherwise) from the myriad crimes that might be committed upon the grounds during the lawless state of Southtown's affairs, she might get an interview on the most-viewed broadcast at times of crisis: the news.

She might even get a documentary.

"Hmm hmm... live for the applause, 'plause..."

In contravention of conventional logic for a stealth predator, the pink-haired hellion is humming a tune as she glides through the night sky.

Something distracts Lyraelle from her reverie as she drifts through the sky, glazed green eyes glinting as they hone in on movement below - and something else that tickles at her senses, like a beacon to infrared - a sixth sense that Lyraelle herself doesn't fully grasp.

Is it an adventure seeker, on an empty street? Or just an alley creeper, light on her feet? A young fighter screaming, with no time for doubt, who, with the pain and anger, can't see a way out?

Whatever.

To a Queen who wants it all, she looks like a firefly - or possibly food.

"Yoo hoo~"

The sound will come from above, where, if those below look up, the silhouette of a winged succubus can be seen crouching like a gargoyle on the edge of the roof, wings folded against her back, the shadow broken by a pair of strangely gleaming green eyes.

"Konichiwa~"

The shadow's spaded tail can be seen flicking, cat-like, behind her.

"Are you two on the run from the bad things, or on the run from the law? Because it looks like you're up to no good."

[MITSURU]Her hands -really- stung.

As Steve drops down behind her, the teenager puffs out her flat chest, just stating matter of factly. "Well I had to, because if I wanted to be a tough street kid, I had to figure out how to sneak around! I'm fine, I've done this a lot." She brushes her hands more, wincing at the bloodied scrape on her palm. "As for safe... well, I guess it would be here?" Mitsuru didn't actually know what was safe. Technically, where adults were, was safe. "I mean, nobody's here. We just... find a place near a dumpster... or a truck? And we just stay there. Yes, here would be... safe..." Her eyes cast up to the roof top, at the greetings.

That's a demon.

Mitsuru wasn't afraid. Why would she be afraid? She was a tough and fearless street tough who everyone was afraid of. She wouldn't be afraid of a demon lady who just flew in. As she looks up on the roof through, she makes sure that she was putting Steve between herself and the... lady. As she looks up to the frightening eyes, at the silhouette, she balls up her hands in fists. She considers that maybe it would be a good idea for Steve to say something, and be diplomatic. Suddenly, a fire blasts in her. She rushes forward, to cut in front of Steve, to put herself between it and Steve. "Oi! Buzz off! We're a pair of real trouble makers, who have punched the snot out of a whole bunch of monsters, just to warm up! You'd better run off, or fly off, before I come right up there and unleash my thousand punches!" She looks back at Steve, and suddenly back up to the strange creature.

"I can box too!"

[STEVE]Steve chuckles "I think there's more to 'safe' then that. But I'm sure we'll figure it out though." He takes a few steps out of the alley, "We should atleast find somewhere indoors, so lets keep going for a-" the boxer is cut short by the sudden greeting from above. He's about to say something back, but is interrupted by Mitsuru.

After the girl's sudden outburst, Steve hastily steps in front of Mitsuru, briefly turning his head towards her with a somewhat dissaproving look. He turns his attention to the mysterious winged silhouette "We uh, don't mean any trouble. Just trying to pass through the city amongst the chaos." He puts his hand against his chest "I'm Steve. What's your name?" He casually asks, trying to salvage the hostility Mitsuru opened with.

He turns his head back around, towards the teenager, and whispers "It's good that you're being observant, but try not to greet people with agression. We need to be careful."

[LYRAELLE]The crouching creature's head tilts, the beams of moonlight against the wall below and opposite shifting as they filter past her. Pointed ears lower at the side of the shadow's head, then flick back up again. She looks off to one side, like an animal that's caught a noise in the distance. Finally, she looks back down at the pair below.

"Is punching the snot out of monsters a good way to warm up? I would've figured setting them on fire would be a better way. Speaking of which, betcha can't guess what I've been up to~"

She turns her head to look more closely at Steve, and the side of her face is briefly illuminated by moonlight, giving some evidence of the woman's features - which are rather less monstrous than her appearance enshrouded in darkness.

"At least one of you is /almost/ gentlemanly, if still less deferential than one should be in the presence of royalty."

Her head shifts again so that she's looking at both of them before introducing herself.

"My name is Lyraelle Darkheart, but I prefer that the common people refer to me as 'Your Majesty.'"

Her eyes flit over to regard Mitsuru more intently again, the green-eyed gaze fixing on her.

"So, are you going to come up here and unleash your thousand punches, or did you want to go back to hiding behind your boyfriend?"

[MITSURU]Mitsuru was getting a little... hostile.

As Steve plays the good cop, Mitsuru seemed proud that Steve was stepping in. But when he whispers back, she actually deflates a bit. That... was a good point. Maybe she would just leave them alone. Mitsuru didn't quite understand why she felt so hostile about the woman. It just happened. "You're right Steve. I need to- I need to just not lose my head. I need to focus on getting back to Mommy and Daddy. You can... you can just be diplomatic, and-"

Oh, she says Steve is her boyfriend.

Mitsuru stomps her sneakers out ahead of Steve, hands balled into fists. "You come down here, you dumb bimbo! You stupid bat lady! Lyraelle Darkheart? M-m-more like Liar El Dorkheart! Lily Dorkheart, the Queen Of Rooftops And Dumb Green Eyes!" Mitsuru's ace taunts mastered in middle school come to bear now. "You aren't royalty! I'm more royalty than what you could ever be, and Daddy says only the Emperor and his family is royalty! I met them once! I pulled Princess Aiko's hair and Daddy almost had to kill himself!"

Mitsuru sounded almost -proud- of that last note.

"Yare yare daze..." Mitsuru shakes her head, bringing her cap over her eyes. "It sounds like that one thousand punches are too good for you. I better make it ten thousand punches! Yeah, ten thousand punches! I can make it a hundred thousand too! Steve, who is -not- my boyfriend," Mitsuru's face turns beet red as she says that, to confirm that she was absolutely confident in describing that. "Has trained me in boxing! He's a championship boxer! And you're just Queen Dorkheart! And if you think you're better than that, then come down here, and I'll teach you a lesson or two in respecting -me!-" And to make it clear just how much of a bad ass she is?

She stomps her foot three times, hands on her hips.

[STEVE]"Oh no" the boxer mumbles.

It's probably too late for damage control, but Steve gives his his best attempt anyways. "Excuse me Li- uh, Your Majesty." He grabs the Ranting girl by her shoulders, and tries to forcefully spin her around to face him "What's gotten into you Mitsuru?! We have no idea how strong this woman is and we can't afford to take these risks. Stand back, and let me handle this."

Dearly hoping Lyraelle won't attack, he gently pushes Mitsuru back and stands in front of her "I'm terribly sorry your Majesty. We just want to pass through this area unscathed." He briefly looks towards the teenager, before turning his blue eyes back to the Demon Queen. "I don't understand why my.. friend here is being so hostile. But I'm sure she doesn't really want to fight."

And in a slightly pleading voice, he finishes "Please? ...your Majesty"

[LYRAELLE]The perching demon keeps her feline gaze on Mitsuru, seemingly unscathed by the blistering tirade of schoolyard insults being unleashed on her. Her head does tilt slowly to the other side as she listens, which only serves to make her appear all the more catlike as Mitsuru gets catty with her. When the challenge is made, the succubus slinks down over the side of the wall, taking hold of a pipe running down it and using it to climb down hand over hand until she's halfway down the brickwork before flipping down and dropping lightly to her feet in front of the pair.

As she straightens up to her full height, it's evident that aside from the curved horns emerging from the sides of her head, the Demon Queen is slightly shorter than Mitsuru, but even so, she carries herself as if she were two stories taller. She places her left hand on her waist as she shifts her weight onto the corresponding hip.

"Oh, I see. Are you going to pull my hair, too? I think that you're just jealous. I can definitely see why you would be."

The demoness' tone is mockingly honeyed as she leans slightly forward to get a better look at Mitsuru's face - and also give the teenager a better look at her own face. She raises a gloved hand and taps at her lip thoughtfully with one index finger.

"Is that sumo? I bet you're captain of the sumo team, aren't you? I'm no yokozuna, but if that's what you're good at..."

She opens her hand in a gesture of magnanimity as she straightens up. She turns slightly to consider Steve, her expression instantly shifting to something more detached.

"Didn't she say that she was more royal than I was? I think that that makes her the spokesperson for you two, even if she's clearly the red oni in the equation. Especially when she was saying how you're 'not' her 'boyfriend."

As she says that, she gives her signature head tilt and wink to Mitsuru - which, while typically an innocent or endearing expression, would be hard not to read as a taunt in the current context.

[MITSURU]Mitsuru didn't understand why she was so sensitive about it either.

The rational thing would be lie low, and let Steve smooth it over. But something, just something about the woman made her angry. Maybe it was how she was just bossing over them. Maybe because she acted more human than monster. Mitsuru didn't understand, and when Steve scolds her, Mitsuru almost shrinks. "I'm sorry..." She says softly. She really was sorry. Why did she just let her mouth run like that? She decides she just will keep quiet, and not let the old hag antagonize her...

Unfortunately, Mitsuru was sensitives to taunts

"Jealous!? Why would I be jealous about anything!" Mitsuru unconsciously puts a hand across her chest, as she continues to turn beet red. "And I'd cut your hair off, you fat blubbering- blubbering- hussy! Can't you see she's looking for a fight, Steve! She's toying with us!" And Mitsuru looks at Steve, and then, at Lyraelle. And suddenly, she takes her hand off her chest.

"Stop talking to Steve you cow!"

She spits out, as she steps in front of Steve -again-. She was running out of space between Steve and Lyraelle; if this kept up then one of them would pratically be climbing on top of the other. Mitsuru throws a finger up as she continues to blush. "I'm the number one fighter of the Fight Club at Seijyun High! I made quarterfinals in the Neo-League and everything, and would have won! I could beat the ugly out of you! Yeah! You are ugly! With that tail and giant clownish boobs!" Mitsuru looks back at Steve, her hand unconsciously returning over her chest again.

"Tell her how ugly she is Steve!"

[STEVE]Something is off with Mitsuru. She keeps going back on her words, apologizes but doesn't stop. It's so.. unnatural. Even for her.

"Your majesty, I have to apologize in her steed. But we -really- need to get going. I need to get my Sister to safety, you see." he gives Mitsuru a firm pat on the back "I believe she might be ill, normally she's such a sweet girl." In his attempted deception he tries to sound elegant to match Lyraelle's royal personage. He chuckles "And don't mind her. You aren't ugly in the slightest!"

He hates to do this, he is usually a straightforward person. But being straightforward wasn't helping in the slightest, maybe.... this will work? Though, it is a terrible lie. Mitsuru is Japanese, Steve is English. It'd be blindingly obvious that they aren't related, the boxer is just desperately trying to get away from the Demon Queen. "It was a pleasure to make make your acquaintance, your Majesty. If you'll excuse us..." The brit pushes Mitsuru's back, nudging her to start walking with him towards the alley exit. He seems very eager to leave, and takes a few steps of his own. Hoping Mitsuru will follow suit.

[LYRAELLE]The Demon Queen's arms fold beneath her chest, her tail flicking lazily behind her as Mitsuru starts to apologize to Steve. If her face were a painting, it would be a Mona Lisa smirk - and then, steadily, a more open and brazen one, green eyes shining with the delight of a predator toying with its prey as Mitsuru starts to lambast her again.

In another role, the pink-haired hell-maiden's hackles might have raised at the affront to her majesty that such disrespect of her royal personage might cause. Here, though, she was playing the part of Invidia incarnate, a being feeding off of jealousy - and Mitsuru's jealousy is delicious.

"Cow is a very hurtful derogative amongst my people, you know," Lyraelle says as she unfolds her arms and raises her hands beside her head, extending her index fingers to mimic the horns that flank her crown and wiggling them. As she does so, she pulls a pout and flutters her eyelashes, then turns her eyes to Steve.

"Aww, it's so sweet of you to say that. Do you really think so?"

Her hands slip down over her front, cupping under her bosoms and lifting them slightly as the tactical pout returns. "You don't think that my boobs are giant and clownish?"

She turns her body to one side, arching her back to present the spaded tail - and at the same time, the scantily clad hips beneath them. "Or that my tail is... ugly?"

[MITSURU]She'd call her worse things than a cow, if she could think of them.

Mitsuru was a hairs trigger away from flying into a fighting frenzy. Her apprehensive temper was about to explode. As Steve responds, though, explaining that no, she wasn't ugly, and Mitsuru was just his sister, that should have made Mitsuru detonate into a screaming, flailing tantrum. But miracles of miracles, Steve must have gotten through to Mitsuru! Because she is quiet.

Very, very quiet.

And she must have popped a sour candy in her mouth while Steve and Lyraelle were talking, because her mouth was pursed tightly together. And the sunset must be right in her eyes, because she was narrowing them into thin squints at Steve. Her hand was digging at the scar on her chest, as looks from Lyraelle, and then, back to Steve. She didn't say anything. She was very quiet, which only spoke as a testament of Steve's successful calming of Mitsuru's fiery temper. She didn't need to say anything anyways. She made it clear what she was thinking. Yes. Steve.

What do you think of her boobs and tail?

[STEVE]This is the absolute worst.

Both are waiting for a answer. But Steve doesn't want to upset either of them, escalate this conflict further. He briefly looks at Lyraelle as she displays her 'assets' but quickly averts his eyes, blushing slightly. A few, deathly silent seconds pass as Steve considers his response.

But really, he's panicking internally.

But... you can't go wrong by giving a honest answer right? He gathers his courage, and looks back at the Succubus. "They aren't clownish at all, your majesty. Quite.... shapely, in fact. And while your tail is certainly unusual, i don't think it's ugly at all." He needs to get out. He has the distinct feeling the situation is about to explode after his honest response. He says, with a serious face. "But.. we need to leave. The longer we stay here the more we risk getting attacked by those monsters. I care very much about her, you see."

He lays a arm over Mitsuru's shoulder, and whispers. "You can blow up at me later. But please, stay calm, and we'll leave the alley together, yeah?."

[LYRAELLE]At the kind and affirmative words from Steve, Lyraelle's lips curl into a saccharin smile.

"Why, thank you. I'm glad that you think so."

She's still wearing the same smug smile as she turns her face toward Mitsuru.

And, quickly and timed and positioned such that Steve can't see it, the Demon Queen's tongue pops out from between her lips, giving Mitsuru the royal raspberry, accompanied by a wink from the eye Steve can't see.

Then both are gone.

[MITSURU]Mitsuru's face is stone.

As Steve admits to every attribute of Lyraelle's appearance, the teenager shuts her eyes, wincing at the words. About her beautiful breasts. On how shapely and not like Mitsuru they were. Mitsuru's chest hurt, on the scar. She has to release it, giving a hiss of pain. And her tail, attached to a perfect bottom that was round and plump and not flat and boney. Steve made it very clear about how important his standards were, and how important he considered Mitsuru's standards. The arm goes over Mitsuru's shoulder. And the teenager looks at the demoness. The rib twist of a face comes from the woman. And for a moment, there is a surge of energy within Mitsuru.

And then, she puts on a precious smile.

"Oh yes, sempai." Mitsuru says, her voice taking a sickeningly sweet tone. She looks over at Steve, dimples showing on her face. Gone was the facade of a street tough girl, but the full natural princess coming out in full bear. "I am so sorry I was so rude to Queen Darkheart. I guess I was just being silly in my head. I was so silly to be trying to start a fight with someone that you thought was so beautiful, sempai! We should just go!" And she turns and walks. Except she wasn't walking away. No, she was walking out from Steve's grip. Straight towards the demoness. Eyes locked at the demoness. "

"I would like the curtsy to the queen before we go!, so show how sorry and humble I am!"

[STEVE]"Uh, Mitsuru... are you alright?" The sudden transformation of Mitsuru's character catches Steve by surprise. He watches her back as she walks towards the demon queen. Though, this time. He decides not to stop her. He doesn't want to keep telling her what to do. She's had enough of that in her life. The Englishman doesn't understand Mitsuru's behaviour. Doesn't get she might hurt by what he said.

He sighs deeply. Left defeated and frustrated by the girl's stubbornness, the boxer can only hope this encounter doesn't turn into a fight.

[LYRAELLE]As Mitsuru approaches, the Demon Queen draws herself up, smiling magnanimously as she makes it all the easier for Mitsuru to make herself smaller than Her Highness.

"So lovely that you could learn to share your brother's appreciation. I'm glad to see that you've remembered your place," the succubus says with a conciliatory sweep of her hand.

[MITSURU]Mitsuru's mask lasts just long enough to reach Lyraelle. As that hand sweeps, she kneels down on one knee. Bending down her head, she lowers her her head. "Oh, yes. My brother's appreciation for the better things in life. I definately understand that! Because my place is so obvious right now." She lifts her head up. The smile is gone. Her eyes are wild. And her mouth was twisting in a snarl of rage.

She brings her arm around.

It's a good straight punch! She keeps her torso straight, like steve taught her. Inside of the arm in all right, and she even uses the momentum to stand up. All the force would be to try and sucker punch her straight in the chest. In any other situation, Steve might be proud of her. But Mitsuru knew Steve wouldn't be proud. He'd be mad. Real mad. But it's better for him to be mad at her, than her to be mad at him.

[STEVE]And escalate into a fight, it did. Though. That was a *damn* good punch. But, why does Mitsuru actually sound jealous?

He starts running towards the pair, he needs to break this up. If the fight were to continue, well... He'd have to help Mitsuru fight Lyraelle, right? He is supposed to protect her.

After Mitsuru's punch landed, he puts himself in between the two. Hoping to act as a barrier to prevent- or limit further attacks. He frantically turns to Mitsuru. "Look, look. I- I really don't understand what has you so upset. But we can talk about it soon. Please, you got a /good/ punch in. Let this rest." This is likely a futile attempt, but dammit he'll try. The Brit spins around, towards Lyraelle "And uh, I know you just got punched and all but could you... maybe... let us go? I genuinely don't want this to escalate any further, I'm sure all of us have better uses of our time then this petty brawl. Southtown is being slaughtered as we speak, for god's sake."

He ends up raising his voice as he talks, eventually yelling until he finally calms down, and carefully adds. "Please?.. Y-Your Majesty."

[LYRAELLE]It's exactly what Lyraelle expects. It's what she's been drawing out throughout the entire exchange; every move calculated to crank the heat up under the pot of Mitsuru's jealousy, savouring the aroma of the teenager stewing in her envy until it boils up and over. And then, with a carefully timed sidestep, she'll avoid the expected retaliation, flaunting her own poise and only making the schoolgirl's humiliation all the more complete.

Her high heel catches in the grating that she's standing on.

And with that, playing the victim suddenly stops being a role and becomes reality - the Demon Queen is struck full in her ample chest by the jealous fist of the temperamental teenager. Her green eyes widen genuinely at the sheer audacity, her balance failing as her boots commit high treason, and suddenly the Sovereign of House Darkheart is toppling ass-first onto the asphalt. Her hand comes up to clutch at her chest, her face suddenly setting with royal rage as her eyes lock on Mitsuru.

"Y-you!"

The demoness' wings burst forth, lifting her up above the alleyway in a sudden surge of speed.

"How dare you /actually hit me!/"

It's unclear from the emphasis whether it's the descent into the violence or its success that's stoked the succubus' anger, but it seems that she's gone completely deaf to whatever Steve is saying.

"You'll pay for that, you boob-punching peasant!"

There's only a moment before green energy flashes in Lyraelle's eyes, then flies out in twin scorching beams aimed in Mitsuru's direction!

The thought flashes in Mitsuru's head, as she lands the breast strike with skeleton-shattering force. She didn't understand why she was being so agressive. Why her temper was so hot. He was still trying to deescalate. For -her- sake. Not Mitsuru's. And suddenly, that rage comes up again as those green eyes lay on the teenager. The eye beams come out.

And Mitsuru punches.

Bracing for impact, she unleashes a left, punching the eyebeams. Ripping them apart with a blend of her own platnium energy, she staggers backwards, the blast nearly knocking her head over heels. Arm smoking with verdant smoke, she gingerly shakes her arm, wincing in pain. This was... a lot stronger than she should be fighting. Her chest was burning. Would she really be able to fight? Maybe Steve could smooth things over. Maybe she would just take a kiss from Steve for payment.

While Mitsuru was forced to watch.

"I knew it!" She blurts out, making sure she articulates so Steve can hear and understand. "They are fake! You were totally praising fake boobs Steve! I bet you feel really dumb!" "I bet she's not even a she! Wouldn't you feel so stupid about flirting with someone like that!" Wait, flirting? Mitsuru charges up her own energy, letting the silvery chi build up her arm. ANd then, with a flail, she flings the shimmering orb of energy straight for Lyraelle.

[STEVE]Steve is doing this for -all- their sakes. Being wounded, battered, injured in a time like this? Not to mention wasting precious minutes that could be used to get to safety? This is completely foolish.

He balls his fists, angry at the fact he can't get his point across to either of these idiots. He jumps after the silver orb of Chi Mitsuru throws with arms ready to block it, but he tragically miscalculated the point of impact, blocking significantly too high. The projectile smashes right into his groin. Steve crumples over, and cries out in pain as his bells are being rung by the small explosion of chi.

"Oh god- fucking- bloody hell." He whimpers out, his voice pitched higher then usual from the shock and pain. His heroic moment of self-sacrifice is a lot less heroic thanks to this pathetic display. But, he must have gotten the Demon Queen's attention, right? With the same high-pitched tone, he mutters out. "P-P Please... fly away. I- I really don't want this to turn this into a two-on-one f-fight against you."

He stumbles over his words, still recovering from the incredible levels of hurt inflicted on his scrotum. He takes a few seconds to recover, take a deep breath. Trying to make this awful pain fade away.

[LYRAELLE]"Don't be jealous just because you don't know what a real boob feels like!"

It seems that the Demon Queen has stooped - or rather, been knocked - down to the level of the spiteful schoolgirl that she's embroiled with. It would take a real miracle - or perhaps, a truly heroic sacrifice - to defuse the situation, now that the purple-clad oni's colours are shifting red.

And then, Steve is caught in the crossfire - and goes down hard.

It would take a slow-motion replay to capture all of the emotions that pass over Lyraelle's face. Initially, there's fury - the lingering rage at the impudent teenager's punch. Then, her eyes widen, most likely in sheer surprise at the boxer's brief misfortune. Then follows that slight crinkle around the eyes, the pursed lips and puff cheeks that are the telltale sign that a laugh is barely being held back, one purple gloved hand rising to suppress it - and by the time that the hand covers the mouth, it's covering an open display of horror at the consequences the two young womens' actions have wrought.

"Oh, no! Stevie~"

All of the succubus' supernatural speed is put into motion, and in an instant she's kneeling at the beleaguered boxer's side, offering one hand to pat his back while the other slips toward his thigh.

"How terrible! Let me help with that. I know first aid, you know~"

She leans ever closer - completely ignoring any sense of personal space Steve might have, short of actually imposing her 'assistance' - as she takes on a comforting posture, back arching.

Mitsuru might imagine that she's imagined Lyraelle giving her a sly wink and grin, but she'd only be imagining that she was imagining it, as that's definitely what goes down.

Her reckless behavior comes at the worst time, where she hits Steve right in the nether lands, sending the chi blast right up his utrecht, and possibly leaving him walking with a limburg for a long time. Mitsuru squeaks as she goes wide-eyed. It was important. If they did get injured... how were they supposed to get home? Steve was so selflessly sacrificing himself, to make sure both of them were safe. For a moment, there was clarity. And all it takes for that clarity to disappear was one word.

Stevie.

Mitsuru stares in horror as commander clownboob grabs his thigh. She might have imagined the wink. The long, slow pressure of her breasts against his chest. The way her legs were wrapping around him, and the tail pulling him closer... Mitsuru's face was purple now, in pure embarassment and rage. No longer did she have sympathy for braining Steve in the bojangles. No. Now she was mad at -him-. She was charging at Lyraelle. Wait no. STEVE.

"You did that on purpose!"

She would shove Lyraelle out of the way, or at least try to. But that wasn't an attack, no. What was an attack was she was going to try to do to Steve. Mitsuru would then try stomping on Steve in a rage, furiously stomping on the boxer. "You man slut! I saw what you were after the moment she raised her fat fake boobs! You were hoping she would lay your head in her l-l-lap! You know all Englishmen are like that! They only have one thing on their mind!" And Mitsuru would give a final, finishing kick.

[STEVE]"No- You don't have to-" he tries to convince Lyraelle to stay away, and he can't help but blush as the Succubus so thoroughly invades his personal space. "Really, i'll be fine-" But he is interrupted by the shouting Teenager. This is what he was worried about, she will attack Lyraelle again- Wait no, is she charging at him?!

Mitsuru comes in with those heavy, savage stomps. But With Lyraelle's assistance, he manages to supress the pain enough to snatch her leg out of the air while still being on his knees, holding it and preventing any more stomps. He instinctually *pushes* the girl away from him, releasing her leg.

"Mi-Mitsuru, please stop thi- this tomfoolery. I had no idea any of this w-would happen. I wanted to- wanted to leave, remember?" He is still struggling to speak normally, this is a pain that will last for a decent while longer.

[LYRAELLE]Lyraelle starts to flinch away as Mitsuru charges in again - to use Steve as a human shield, all the better to press up against him and allow him to prove his gentlemanliness by protecting Her Majesty. It turns out, though, that it's not even her that Mitsuru is attacking this time, but Steve himself.

How wonderful!

"How could you do such a thing... to your own brother?~"

The Demon Queen detaches herself from Steve, hopping up to her feet, then springing up toward the wall, pouncing off of it with her hands and feet to reposition herself behind Mitsuru - landing in a catlike posture, intended not to apply any real force, but to make a stumbling block of herself such that Steve's pacifistic push could well cause Mitsuru to trip clumsily right over the Demon Queen before her Royal Highness can get to her feet.

[MITSURU]Mitsuru tromping does nothing, even in the presence of the tramp.

As Steve uses his reasonableness as a shield against Mitsuru's temper, the teenager seemed to be shocked as Steve gets up. Snarling in a high-pitched voice, the boxer seizes her leg and pushes her back.... right where a waiting Lyraelle was positioned, to help Steve send Mitsuru head over heels with a nasty thump. Mitsuru flails with all limbs now.

And Mitsuru was getting even more angry.

Tantrum in full force, hands balled into tight fists, she was boiling into a frenzy. Staggering up, she flails her arms around, trying to steady into a full stand. "You just wanted to have me sneak off so you could have fun with her while I was sleeping!" Mitsuru rants out. "It's so obvious! I have parents too you know! I had the talk, and Queen Butterbutt is basically what every guy is looking for a fun time! I'm never going to look like that! And that's why you're acting so weird!" Steve's acting weird? Mitsuru thrusts a thumb to her chest.

"All because I'm all scarred up and not feminine like she is!"

Mitsuru stamps her foot, as she shouts louder and louder so everyone can hear. "I can tell how you act around girly girls like her!" Mitsuru seeths, as her wrath shifts from Steve straight towards Lyraelle. "How you act around -women- instead of what... whatever you think I am!" Silvery energy cascades over her, as her arms tremble as they maintain balled into fists. "And this is all your fault! If you weren't... weren't around, I'd be able to just walk around with Steve without having to share him with a hussy and a tramp like you! I won't let you take him away from me!"

And Mitsuru begins to ora.

Fists blazing, she punches a machine-gun assault of punches with both hands, attempting to batter batter batter the demoness with a furious fisting fury. She was chanting to herself, "ora ora ora", just like in her animes. She needed to make herself big and tough and strong and scare the mean lady who was going to take her Steve away. Mitsuru didn't even think about saying Steve wasn't her brother.

It made too much sense that he was.

[STEVE]She just keeps going. He needs to get through to Mitsuru, somehow. He doesn't want to have to hurt her. He groans out towards Lyraelle "Please don't attack her, i'm gonna attempt to talk some sense into her.

While Mitsuru is unleashing her barrage of punches towards the Demon Queen, Steve forces himself on his feet through the pain, and stumbles behind her. After she finishes her attack, Steve tries to hook his arms under her shoulders in an attempt to restrain her, and limit the movement of her arms. "Mitsu. Calm down, and listen to me. I won't leave you. I won't be leaving- or doing anything with that woman. I barely know her, and she doesn't compare to how much i care about you. Look- look- i've been trying to leave- or get her to leave since we met. Just.. Realize that, please.

If this doesn't work, Steve won't know what to do. He wouldn't be able to bring himself to actually hurt the Teenaged girl, and he can't just start attacking the Succubus that attempted to help him. This whole situation is a confusing mess.

[LYRAELLE]Lyraelle lifts herself up off her hands and knees, her green eyes shining with the malevolent glee that's returned full force in the face of Steve and Mitsuru's misfortunes. Steve still likely won't be able to spot the little grin, but it's plain enough for the schoolgirl to see, if she's not completely blind with rage, as she charges in, raining blow after blow upon the Demon Queen's person. Lyraelle's strategy on the defense is to swish and sidestep out of the way of as many punches as she can, though a number of blows do manage to connect with her regal flesh - none quite solidly enough to blast the look off of Lyraelle's face again, though.

"You know, I can't tell if you're trying to be rude or pay me a compliment anymore," the demoness taunts Mitsuru, just before leaning her face out of reach of a swung fist. "At least I have your body language to work with."

The corner of Lyraelle's lip tugs upward in a smirk as she swings her body around in a sudden spin, extending her leg heel-first in a high kick aimed straight for Mitsuru's - wait - it seems like the Demon Queen's aim is off; that high heel is on course for Steve's face as he's trying to hold his friend back!

"I... I don't know if that's true!" Mitsuru babbles out as she leans back, her fists still burning with energy. "I don't know anything! She's so much prettier and taller and a real woman, and not a stupid bratty girl- but she -is- so ugly, and short, and a fake woman! And a stupid, stupid brat!" Mitsuru stamps her foot. It made everything clear when she said it like that. But Steve... Steve was trying to de-escalate. Maybe Mitsuru should stop. For a moment, Mitsuru looked ready to stop.

But then Lyraelle 'accidentally' kicks Lyraelle.

"HEY! GOOD GRIEF!" Mitsuru immediately throws her fists up and looks at the demoness, eyes wide. "What- what's wrong with my body language?!" Mitsuru sputters out, as she keeps her focus on Lyraelle. "My body is being honest about Steve!" Mitsuru spits out as her fists continue to ball up into fists. Flailing her arms around, she screams at Lyraelle as she locks her rage back in hard.

"STOP KICKING HIM!"

"I'm the only one allowed to hit him! He's MINE!" Mitsuru greed was boiling over as she lurches back at Lyraelle. Swinging her leg around, she attempts to give a kick right into the demoness's shin. Another bittering annoying attack. It seemed that -nothing- in Mitsuru's head made sense. But she was still beet red. Lyraelle might know all too well what's really going on with Mitsuru.

Hopefully, she wasn't going to take advantage of it.

[STEVE]Lyraelle didn't listen to his request, and keeps attacking. However, she (accidentally?) misses, and the kick instead flies straight at his face. He manages to react quickly however, releasing Mitsuru and putting his arms in front of her heeled boot. But the kick had some serious power behind it, and still managed to put a rather painful bruise on his forearms.

What the hell is up with Mitsuru? Since when is she so obsessive? This is unsusual. It isn't right. Something about Steve's attitude seems to snap, and he shouts out. "Alright, you wanna hit me? Then hit me!" from his point of view, Lyraelle hasn't given him much of a reason to attack her. Mitsuru is the one acting completely insane. In that realization, he approaches Mitsuru from the front, and throws a light jab towards her frenzied face. Enough to sting, but not enough to inflict real damage.

[LYRAELLE]The Demon Queen comes out of her kick and twists around to face the pair that are the subject of her predations. Mitsuru's jealousy is like an active volcano - but the demoness is a lava-loving monster. She sticks her tongue out, less petulantly but more provocatively, showing perfectly white teeth and peculiarly pointy incisors, even as Mitsuru approaches for the kick.

The fact that Steve is now throwing punches at Mitsuru only makes the situation all the more delicious - but it doesn't actually serve Her Majesty's ends for the two to fall out.

It's time to be more decisive.

"I think it's time for you..."

Lyraelle leaps forward over the kick, her wings instantly spreading to lift her up as she veers past Steve, one gloved hand reaching low like the talon of a bird of prey to try and snatch Mitsuru by the hood of her sweater, or whatever else she can lay hands on. If she succeeds, she'll carry the banchou girl up into the air, up above the alley, gaining momentum as she swings up into what would, for a plane, be a stall. Then, she'd release Mitsuru while inertia was still strong enough to overcome gravity, setting her up as the succubus spins around, heel igniting with green fire as she aims an axe kick to drive Mitsuru back to earth.

She was immune to logic and reason. And worst of all, now Steve was being forced to have to use physical violence to stop her. When her kick is neatly used to set up an attack, she actually lets out a howl of rage. Steve is at her side, and she doesn't even properly register she's being punched by him. She takes the hit to the face, and she turns to Steve, snarling like an animal as she brings up her fists. She draws back a punch...

Until she realizes what was happening.

She was stunned, when Lyraelle grabbed her by the hoodie. When she is hurled up, she is slammed down. When the heel drops comes, she lets out an agonized groan. For a moment, it looks like Mitsuru was about to go completely berserk.

And then she gets a tear down her cheek.

She gives a choking gasp, her mask of rage falling away. She staggers up, her chest hurting so bad, the emerald fire still clinging to her. All of a sudden, she gets very, very small. She rubs her cheek, which was swelling up. And she looks right at the boxer, with her brown eyes very big. Tears were building up in them. She gives a heaving huff, looking towards Lyraelle... and then, averting her eyes from both of them. Her upper lip quivers, as she covers her face with her sleeve. And her voice is very, very soft.

"I'm sorry Steve."

And she starts to run away to the parking center of the building complex, trying futily to hide her tears.

[STEVE]Why did he think that was a good idea? He punched Mitsuru, Why did he punch Mitsuru when she was being attacked by this unknown woman? Steve doesn't know anymore. He feels horrible, a pit in his stomach. Sure, she was acting completely irrational, but he was supposed to be there for her, but then he punched her. And now she is running away. Again. And Steve needs to try and stop her, again.

He turns to Lyraelle, accidentally or not- she is the origin of this conflict. He snarls "Please, just leave her alone." and immediately to bolts after the girl with all the speed he can muster- assuming Lyraelle will let him, and shouts after her "Wait- Stop, i'm sorry!"

[LYRAELLE]The Demon Queen is still hovering in the air, wings beating excitedly as she admires the carnage below. The schoolgirl has been reduced to tears. Her 'brother' has just punched his 'sister' in the face. If her intent was sadistic, or to sow chaos, then the infernal queen's work here is surely complete.

But how could she stop here, when regret and shame were winning out over the jealousy she craves?

"Fine... I'll leave her alone~"

The demon queen drifts backward through the air, keeping herself in the space between Steve and Mitsuru.

"After all... it's you that I want to play with!"

Spinning around, her wings wrapping and unfurling as she changes directions in mid-air, the succubus presents her barely-clothed backside to the boxer. Looking back over her shoulder, she gives a cheeky wink, before diving down derriere-first, wings flapping to thrust her at an angle toward Steve, on course to intercept him, knock him to the ground and pin him beneath her.

It's definitely no 'accident' this time.

And if she manages to succeed at pinning the Brit below her, her tail will try and wrap around his wrists and pin them against her, disarming him, invisibly sapping at his essence, and visibly putting him in a rather compromising position...

[STEVE]He is running, not paying attention to his surroundings- not noticing Lyralle floating above of him. Until the Demon Queen's voice pierces through the air, making her malicious intend clear. He reacts way too late, and her bum crashes straight into his chest- and brings Steve to the ground with it. He is made into a chair, a cushion. And his arms are restrained- his energy being drained. He feels himself- and his voice weaken as he loudly sputters out "Why are you- Get off of me, i need to go after her!" He starts he starts to shake around as much as he can, wildy flailing about his free legs around hoping to slide free from the Succubus's butt. But- why did she turn on him?

Did she have bad intentions all along?

[MITSURU]Maybe it was all a misunderstanding.

MItsuru stops her fleeing, freezing herself in place. Nothing made sense, and the teenager... the teenager knew, she would get confused about things sometimes. She would jump to conclusions. She knew this, and maybe that what was happening now. Steve was always there to support her. He always wanted to help her. She swallows hard. And finally, she turns around.

She only has to give one look at the grinding Steve.

"Not even A MINUTE" She bawls, as finally, she can't keep her composure anymore. "AND YOU'RE ALREADY UNDER HER!" Hands covering her eyes, she runs away behind a parked 18-wheeler, falling into a seated position by its tires. There, she sits down, knees to her chest.As she just cries and cries in her hands.

Trying to cry away the pain of the betrayal.

[STEVE]This is a -Massive- misunderstanding. He hears Mitsuru's cries. Is it not obvious that he's trying to struggle away from under her?! He shouts, -very- loudly, trying to make it clear to Mitsuru that this is entirely nonconsensual. "GET THE BLOODY HELL OFF OF ME." And wrenches his arms free from the Darkstalker's tail, and tries to hook his left fist into her waist- an attempt for her to move so he can scramble away and get back on his feet.

[LYRAELLE]Lyraelle looks over as Mitsuru starts to bawl, licking her teeth as she shifts to try and make the position just as suggestive as possible. Her hands run up over her outfit as her tail coils - until Steve wrenches his arms free violently.

"What's that, Stevie?! You want me to get off?!~"

Somehow, despite the rising manic aggression in her tone, she still manages to have a slight sing-song in it as she shouts after Steve for Mitsuru's benefit.

"Why don't you make - MRRRMMM!"

The Demon Queen doesn't even have to fake the loud, pained grunt she lets out, thanks to the boxer's fist pounding into her midsection. She flinches, eyes shutting tight for a moment, one hand moving to hold her bruising waist. The blow unsteadies her enough for Steve to make his escape, leaving her to fall on her ass.

"Urgh... so you like it rough, huh?!"

The succubus slides up to her feet, her right hand swinging to her side as a long whip made of the demoness' signature brand of green hellfire snaps into existence in her fist, sending sparks everywhere as it licks the asphalt.

"Let's try this, then!"

The whip lashes out, aiming to encircle Steve's waist. If it does, the demoness wielding it will twist her body as she grabs the business end of the whip with her left hand and yanks him toward her, lifting her left leg as she pivots on her right. The result would be, in Her Infernal Majesty's ideal reality, that Steve would be pulled right into Lyraelle's extended heel, knocking him to the ground and breaking him out of the whip's grip. The demoness would then stamp her heel down on Steve to pin him down before swinging the whip left and right, burning the gentlemanly Brit repeatedly with circular swings of her hellish scourge.

Mitsuru was searching for stuff on Athena, when Athena was her thing. She really liked Athena, and she imagined all kinds of things. Where handsome boy fighters would all have a crush on her like Athena, but she had to be pure and innocent and not ruin her idol fighting career. She would make up what kind of teams she would have. Like would Kyo be brave enough to confess to join her team? What about Zach Glenn? She wanted to know about the kind of friends Athena had; she knew about Momoko and Haru, and even Bao, with someone like Chin to teach her. So she searched for Athena And Friends.

Thats the first time she saw something like what Steve and Lyraelle was doing.

Mitsuru was crying behind the tire. She wanted it over with. Steve showed what he really liked. And he was getting it, she could hear Steve and Lyraelle moaning and grunting. And maybe that's what Mitsuru needed. Maybe she didn't need to be like JoJo's. Maybe she needed to be more like Lyraelle. To steal men away from girls, and tease them, and be so evil and dirty and not innocent. She could wear thin skirts and long stockings and dye her hair blonde and her skin brown. Maybe that's what she should be. She gives a big heaving sob. Maybe Velvet Blue was right.

[STEVE]Steve scrambles away- But is quickly pulled back into Lyraelle's grasp as her whip coils around his waist, being knocked to the floor by her boot- and subsequently pinned under it with the heel on his chest. She starts whipping and whipping, Steve mostly manages to keep his body and head protected, interrupting the whip with his arms- leaving painful blares and burns all over them. By the end of it, his Sleeves are torn apart. Segmented by large tears in the now blackened cloth.

He finally manages to get away from her heel, and pushes himself back to his feet. He stares at Lyraelle's face with a mixture of fear and anger- and shouts "Mitsuru, i need your help!". He doesn't responds to her taunts, dashing straight towards the succubus with his body low to the ground- He whips his right arm to behind his back, and tries to smash his fist into her Abdomen with a wide, sweeping motion. He swings back and forth twice with similair swings, alternating arms with each blow. Until he finishes the combination with jumping uppercut from below- Capable of Launching his opponent in the air, should it connect.

[LYRAELLE]Lyraelle's balance is only momentarily disturbed as Steve escapes from beneath her heel - though the succubus' chest is rising and falling frequently enough to suggest that the fight is taking its toll on her, in spite of the excitement in her eyes. The Demon Queen leans down as Steve starts to come in on her, her gloved fingers wiggling.

"Can't help yourself, hmm?~"

She tenses subtly as the first blow comes swinging into her abdomen, her body bending with the blow and one eye wincing shut with the impact - still somehow managing to look like she's winking in response to the pain. The distinction between the expressions becomes more clear with the second and third jolts that cause the demoness to flinch and writhe, groaning loudly in agony. The doubling-over of her body causes the uppercut to catch her right below the chest as she tries to rise up on her wings and dampen the blow, only to be sent hurtling into the air with a high-pitched cry:

"NooOOooOooOo!"

The pink-haired hellion smashes into the wall of the TV Southtown building, impacting hard enough to crack up the brickwork and lodge herself in a Demon Queen-shaped indentation in it. She shudders as she struggles to bring forth the energy to move, eyes shut tight and teeth clenching. Then, with a very unladylike roar, she ignites with unholy fury, the sheer force of her infernal aura blackening the brick around her in a flash of heat.

"That... was SO /rude!/"

Lyraelle wrenches her right arm free, then her left, swinging and smashing the bricks to her sides into smithereens with one elbow, then the other, before finally coiling and leaping up toward the sky, crashing horns-first through the black bricks above her and trailing ash and cinders as she rises through the air.

"That's it! For crimes of high treason against the Queen, I sentence you... to BURN!"

Then, with a cinder-scattering unfurling of her wings, the demoness dives down straight for Steve - snatching him up by the leg, if she can, then dragging him up into the sky with her. If she succeeds in doing so, she'll spin in the air, swinging him around by the leg before hurtling him to the ground. As he'd fall, she would hold up a hand over her head, a green ball of fire bursting into existence above her palm and rapidly growing like a miniature hellish sun - big enough to blot out the actual sun from view, from the right angle.

Then, once the fireball spans a dozen feet in diameter, she'd hurl it down toward her victim, intending to engulf him in the flame before he can recover from the perilous journey to the ground!

[MITSURU]Mitsuru was wallowing in who her first compensated date would be, when Steve calls for help.

Help. Mitsuru didn't understand why the word is what made her stand up. It didn't hold the tears at bay. She still felt she was weeping. But Steve needed her help! So she emerges behind the truck. Half expecting Steve to have his eyes rolled back in his head while Lyraelle did things to him, just to make her cry more.

Instead it was a fucking sun.

Mitsuru couldn't believe it. It was just like the Death Ball that Freiza used to destroy both Vegata and Namek. Mitsuru's jaw drops as the obsession and self-absorbed loathing fades. She just left Steve to die. This was all her fault. She did it again. She finally was paying attention to Lyraelle again; and as the demon unleashes the ball of flame, Mitsuru screams, before running towards Steve.

[STEVE]His combo connected- Maybe, maybe that's enough? Sadly, that proves to not be the case. Lyraelle dives-bombs towards him with blinding speed. He attempts to roll away, but as he does so Lyraelle grabs his leg mid-roll. The poor boxer is pulled up- and promptly slammed down while being defenseless in mid-air. The infernal Queen isn't done yet. As he falls down, he sees her throwing a /massive/ orb of fire right his way. It almost plays out in slow-motion through his eyes- and right as he hits the ground with a terrifying *crack* of his bones, he is being engulfed in the ravenous flames of Lyraelle- Turning his clothing to ash, eating at his flesh as he screams out in agony. The "Sun" finally explodes- and disperses with a final blast to knock the Brit in the air briefly once more.
he torment ends. And he falls back on the conrete ground. His body covered multiple second and- third degree burns, with the black ash that remains of his clothing dirtying his skin.

Unconcious and alive- but barely so. In dire need of medical attention.

[LYRAELLE]As her target disappears under the fireball she's unleashed, Lyraelle's arms go limp at her sides. Her body is glistening with sweat, her chest heaving, and her mouth hanging open as she breathes in and out deeply. At first, her expression is wide-eyed and emotionless, but slowly, as her shoulders relax, her lips curve into an open-mouthed grin. It's difficult to read anything from her face beyond a sense of satisfaction - maybe even elation - at her own hellish handiwork as the flames clear to reveal Steve's smouldering form.

As she's still floating in the air, her wings keeping her aloft easily, the pink-haired hell-maiden hears Mitsuru's plaintive scream, and her head turns in the schoolgirl's direction, followed a second later by the rest of her body.

"Mitsuru-chan~"

One of Lyraelle's hands shoots up to wave a greeting at the banchou brawler. It's as though the succubus has transformed from Frieza into a Magical Girl.

"I'm sorry for Steve's behaviour! He was just being toooo naughty~"

The demoness places her left hand on her hip and raises her right, wagging a finger.

"Now that I've punished him, though..."

She turns, gesturing with her right hand at Steve's fallen form.

"I hope you won't be too... jealous, anymore~"

With that, she raises her right hand to her mouth, covering up a girlish, yet silly-sounding giggle:

When the blast of fire comes, Mitsuru is forced to stop, turning to avert her eyes. When the fires yield, she looks back... And she whispers in horror. "No." Was her squeak. Her legs were moving o. Their own, but she feels her head turn at the monster. The sadism now radiating off the creature.

Her blood curdles when the demoness mewls her name.

She is over Steve. Her injuries are... Are so much to take in. Mitsuru wasn't a doctor. She wasn't go to go back to Velvet. She.... Was he even alive? Mitsuru falls to her knees, trying to jostle Steve. "Steve... Steve... Wake up. I am sorry. I forgive-" The words die on her lips. She states at the boxer. And as a coup de grace, Lyraelle drives the stake into Mitsuru's back.

That she won't be jealous anymore.

Mitsuru's jealousy caused all this. The sheer weight of despair that falls on her shoulders almost breaks her bones. She caused this. She did this to Steve. Guilt slits her throat and wrists, she feels her hope dissolve into the concrete. She made a mistake, again. She could have just listened to Steve. And she hurt the people she cared about. All because she is stupid. Mitsuru hugs Steve's chest, feeling his heartbeat, trembling, sobbing. She was alone. She had nothing. And now, the only thing between it, and him? Was her. She could run away, and leave Steve to his fate. Or maybe she could please and beg. Make herself humble. Or. There was something else she could do. It was stupid. It was reckless.

And it's all she had left.

"Yare Yare Daze." Mitsuru growls, bring her hat brim over her eyes. "The only person I am jealous of is him." Mitsuru rolls her shoulders, turning towards Lyraelle. She raises the brim, eyes burning with outrage. "Because he's the only one here who can't hear your stupid hyena laugh!" Mitsuru stomps her feet, scratching the ground with her sneakers. She tightens her fists a moment, drawing in pained breathes. "I understand your tricks now. I won't let you get away with this. I told you ten thousand punches? Now it will be ten hundred million billion punches. Because that's the only way justice will be served against you!" She gives a grunt, and a stomp.

And her eyes turn white.

White energy floods around her, as she draws out as much power as she can. She is a font of power, her chi flooding around her. Along with... A strange energy. A familiar energy. A very, very familiar energy. The chi swirls all around her, as she howls with fury. "Come on!" She beckons with one hand, gripping the brim of her hat with other. Her eyes were pure white now, as her platinum chi was all but disappeared. And in it's place?

[LYRAELLE]The celebratory celebrity succubus queen stops quaking with her villainous giggle-fit as Mitsuru rebukes her. In particular, the comment about her 'hyena' laugh seems to draw a scowl from the siren of Invidia. The disdainful expression departs from the demoness' face within seconds, though, and a hollow little after-giggle shudders through her frame as she sneers down at the schoolgirl.

"Don't try to deny your envy, sweetie. I could smell it on you from a mile away. Why else do you think someone like me would take the time to play with you and your 'brother?'"

Air quotes are provided by Lyraelle's purple-gloved hands. "I mean, I guess he is smokin' hot - now that I'm through with him."

The queen's covetous green eyes flit askance to Steve as she smirks, before turning back to Mitsuru - somehow seeming to grow greener even with the white energy reflected in them, if not somehow because of it.

"Oh, please. If you'd said a quintillion punches, you might have at least sounded intellectually threatening. All... this?"

Lyraelle lifts both hands palms up as she indicates the powerful aura flowing off of Mitsuru in a way her words fail to.

"You're totally playing into my trap, every step of the way! It's already too late for you!"

The succubus' face lights up with a bright smile. Her hands and legs pump with excitement.

"You have no idea how happy you've made me!"

And then, by way of expressing her gratitude, the demoness suddenly rises up on a buffet of her wings, then rockets down through the air, her left knee bending and right foot extending heel-first toward Mitsuru with a literal flying kick.

Mitsuru can't help but blush, when she talks about her brother. But then, that weakness turns to stubborn strength. "I don't care!" She lies. She really couldn't help but feel so small in the presence of the demoness. How everything she thought and felt was like a violin to her. Even now, Mitsuru felt like she was still in her trap. But when the demoness comes charging in, she prepares the wind up kick. And then, something happened.

Something shifts in the color, as Lyraelle descends.

Mitsuru jerks, as the white turns a deathly shade of purple. The white was twisting, corrupting. Mitsuru could feel a poison inside her. Something sickening. Mitsuru rises up, and that Deep Purple bursts from her leg, ripping her pants as she explodes with a rising roundhouse as the kick jams right in her scarred chest. It's like kicking a Mack Truck for the teenager; Lyraelle's raw power and speed nearly stops the attack before it can even finish. There is a splash of energy. And Lyraelle would notice something, something very different from before.

A flicker, of that same power Lyraelle encountered with Crock.

Spiralling with the momentum, she brings around a second hurricane kick, lifting up. When the third comes around, she spikes down with a howling vacuuming sound, as she finishes with a diving kick right in the demoness's neck, sending the both into a crater outside in the parking lot. The dust clears.

And she has her foot still on the neck of the demoness.

Her body hurt so badly; the intercept was less finnese and more stubborn righteousness. And despite the bravado, Mitsuru was not actually tough. And the corruption of the chi... she didn't understand that. But she digs her sneaker down hard, as she remains in the crater, glaring with her own eyes. "Now you beg!" She blurts out. "Start begging, or else I am going to beat you till you are blue!" She rambles, lifting her foot off, getting ready to kick Lyraelle. "You like humiliating people?"

"Then get humiliated yourself!"

[LYRAELLE]So confident is the Demon Queen in her superiority that she doesn't even consider Mitsuru's ability to stop her - right up until the moment that that flicker of familiar power rocks her.

And the next thing she knows, Lyraelle is lying in a crater in the car lot, her throat being pinned underneath the schoolgirl's sneaker. She closes her eyes and gags as her hand clutches at the ankle, up until the moment that Mitsuru draws back her foot.

This commoner was demanding that /she/ beg. Mitsuru is the one humiliating /her./ It's the sincerest form of flattery - and also the deepest form of degradation for the Demon Queen.

Now it's Lyraelle's turn to feel the sharp pang of envy - and worse, of usurpation.

She'd better prove she's not useless. Show that upstart what humiliation is - and drink all of that ambrosial jealous energy that she can.

"Fuck... off...!" the pink-haired hell-maiden chokes out as her hand clutches at her neck, not wanting to admit that the voice in her head is right.

And then, her green eyes open again, looking up at Mitsuru.

"I don't play the sub in these relationships!"

A burst of green hellfire erupts from the Demon Queen, turning the cratered asphalt around her to emerald brimstone and creating an opening for her to blast off into the air.

"Don't ever expect me to beg!"

The demoness is shouting now, all the playfulness gone from her tone. Her wings beat and take her higher and higher, an Icarus-like ascent into the sun.

She's not fleeing, though. Her shadow starts as a speck in Mitsuru's eye - and then rapidly grows. She's bearing down fast on the banchou - bottom first, like a demonoid bomb dropping from the sky.

"I! AM! /THE/! QUEEN!"

If she manages to crash down on Mitsuru, it'll be with the intent to pin her to the ground - much like with Steve before, but this time, her tail will try and wrap around Mitsuru's throat, tapping directly into the ripe vital energy and hungering for that familiar taste it felt before...

The demoness was right, in a way. Mitsuru was so jealous. She never could escape the envy. Even when she had the edge... when Lyraelle lunges back, she felt all her power and dominance fade away. She shouldn't even expect people to beg. Lyraelle had again gotten control by sheer force of personality. And she flies straight up. Mitsuru wouldn't believe it for a minute, that she was escaping. But she was wrong about something. Dead wrong. It was strange feeling to grab, as she watches Lyraelle ascend to the sky. And Mitsuru felt... disgusted by how wrong she was. Because she wasn't just some commoner. No.

She was a Tokugawa.

That thought burns in her, as the small specks gets larger, faster and faster. Mitsuru braces herself, as she readies to meet the bomb. As she comes with the crash, the teenager actually -catches- her. No straight body slams here, no mow downs like with Steve. Her heels drag across the asphalt, as her sneakers shred at the smell of burnt rubber. And just by keeping her balance, does her eyes go wide at the lashing tail going straight for the throat. She releases Lyraelle, and brings both hands up to it. Grabbing it with both hands like in that one page she saw of Athena and Friends, she struggles, staring wide-mouthed at the tail, half-expecting something to explode out. But nothing explodes out yet. But she was still in control. She forces back, as she twists, her sneakers falling apart as she leans in with one hand, forcing a stalemate with the tail. Eyes wild, she suddenly... calms down. She becomes so smooth, so serene in a flash. And Mitsuru brings the back of her hand to the side of her mouth.

And she laughs.

"OHHHHHHH~ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!" Comes 400 years of careful breeding from the shogunate's line; there is no ora ora oras here or yare yare dazes. The true face of Mitsuru is revealed, thankfully with Steve completely unconscious, as the facade of the banchou is peeled away to reveal the shadow, the true self. The envy becomes no less real; if anything it becomes even more powerful as she reveals how perfectly princess she can be. And with that regal air, she swings the tail down, finally getting her leverage point to send herself into the air.

"The only commoner here... is you!"

Mitsuru flips up, her arms building with that silver-white energy. Her hair was flying around her, as she builds the windup. "I am the heir of the Tokugawa family! I am the princess of what was once the most powerful family of all of Japan! Nobody has heard of A Lyraelle... and nobody will!" She flails her arms wildly through the air, unleashing a barnstorm barrage of half-formed energy, the unfinished orbs bombarding the parking lot as she desends. "I just can't see what Steve saw in you! You are no -queen!- You are just some..." Mitsuru lands on both legs, throwing her head back to look -down-.

It wasn't wrong before - in fact, it had been going almost perfectly. The Demon Queen had had both Mitsuru and Steve dancing on her strings - turning them on each other, drawing forth such jealousy from Mitsuru that Her Infernal Majesty was invigorated just thinking about it.

Now, though - now, something has changed.

Lyraelle is envy royalty. She has royal blood.

Mitsuru, previously only an envious banchou, has transformed into something new. She deflected Lyraelle's attack like it was nothing. Her envy levels are almost certainly over nine thousand.

One can practically see the 'Nani?!' in the Demon Queens wide, green eyes.

Is this the legendary Super Ojou?!

Is Lyraelle a mere arc boss in somebody else's shounen story?

"NO!"

Lyraelle dances back and forth on her high heels as she tries to dodge the barrage of energy balls.

"No! No! No! No! No!"

It's an ill-fated attempt; orb after orb slams into the succubus, driving her to the brink of her ability to stand, to think, to rail against this true heir to nobility, this usurper.

A cloud of debris and dust engulfs the Demon Queen, reducing her to a silhouette in the carnage. As it starts to lift, she's shuddering, hugging herself, hunched over and disheveled - on the last legs of consciousness.

"I'm supposed to be... your nemesis!"

Lyraelle's voice is weak, almost plaintive.

"You're ruining... everything!!"

And with that, the Demon Queen's eyes ignite, and she lets out an unholy cry - a voice with the sting of a thousand defeats, echoing through the streets of Southtown. And with a spite beyond cognition, she explodes - all of her covetous rage spilling out, turning the parking lot around her to tar and sending a wave of burning green heat and scattered green coals in all directions - including toward Mitsuru.

And then, the light goes out in Lyraelle's eyes, and she simply falls backward, staring blankly at the sky.

[MITSURU]It was not surprising, for those who had well learned the ways of ojou.

They say, when an true ojou is humilated, it only becomes stronger. And to say the least, Mitsuru was more than humilated in her last year. In fact, she was so ashamed at herself in this fight, and how easily she let herself be manipulated by the beautiful sexpot, that she almost wanted to die. As she stares down the green-eyed monster, she almost pitied it. No, not pitied. She was annoyed and mad. she braces herself, crossing her arms before her as she readies for it. She shuts her eyes. And finally, all the rage boils out. It tears through her sweats, tearing through her clothing as it rakes across her body. She stands fast, refusing to fall over, refusing to get blown away. Her own aura is what keeps her clothing from cooking onto her skin; but even then, after the blast fades, she is forced to pat out a smoldering fire on her shoulder. She hurt badly, like an awful sunburn over everywhere. But when Lyraelle falls down backwards, Mitsuru stares, striding over to her, chest puffed out. "Nemesis? Good grief. The only thing you are good for..." Mitsuru scowls, as the woman lays there.

"... Is wiping my feet."

And Mitsuru proceeds to do so, as the last of her sneaker bits fall off.

"Oh, shoot." She curses, as she gingerly tippy taps on the asphalt. "Shoot... Steve!" Mitsuru runs back over to Steve. "Oh no, oh no, Steve! I need to... do.... something?" Mitsuru mutters, trying to make sense of what she needs to do. Steve needed a doctor. Or help. Or something. Something. She... she didn't care about Lyraelle. She didn't! Reaching down, she lifts up Steve, and heaves him over her shoulder, with lots of neck movement. Grunting under the weight of the Brit, she looks back at the collapsed form of Lyraelle. "..." She feels like she wants to say something, something to grind her boot in. Something to let out her envy, to deface her. But she couldn't. Not this time. Mitsuru begins to run off with Steve, wincing as she moves barefoot. She might have to steal his shoes later. She had to help her friend.

And that meant risking another fateful encounter with the demoness.

[LYRAELLE]Lyraelle doesn't hear the last degradation - at least, not yet.

As consciousness fades away, she's no longer lying in a smouldering crater in a Japanese parking lot. She's standing above a battlefield in the kingdom of Les Pays-Bas - but it's not called that anymore, is it?

Below her, bodies lie everywhere, scattered about as if a hurricane had come through - bloodied, mangled, disemboweled. Her soldiers have been surrounded, most choosing to die rather than surrender. Others flee, crying out, "Sauve qui peut!"

It's the Empress' greatest defeat, and soon, she knows, she will have to abdicate.

"Non. Je n'vais pas."

Some time later, Lyraelle's eyes blink open, stirred by the first drops of rain from the blackening sky.

"Foutez le camp," she murmurs weakly under her breath, still unable to move.

Since when does she know French?

Log created on 13:04:05 04/20/2020 by Mitsuru, and last modified on 21:37:43 04/27/2020.